Rishikesh I

Just into the second leg, the hills.

Started at 0533 with the odo reading at 7438, after a good hot shower.

Got a profuse apology from the hotel at checkout. The reception staff escorted me all the way to the Thar. They made sure I was leaving !!

Great roads, while heading towards Delhi. Once I turned off onto the Haridwar roads, the bounce started. As the grandkids say, it churns the food completely. Problem is that the road was brilliant in stretches, then had a series of rumblers, and was then crappy for an equal amount of time.

First stop for breakfast was at a large crossing where many private cars were parked at a food place. Went in and ordered poori from the choice of poori or batura. All else in place were eating fried paneer or drinking tea. Should have realised.

Walked out when Poori failed to appear for 5 minutes. Then stopped at another place well outside any habitation. Had hot hot aloo parotha with curds. It was a large parotha with aloo in every tiny centimetre.

Had a very nice relaxed drive along the Eastern Ganga Canal. Met some friends of Divya’s who looked disappointed not to see her in Thar.

Had a first sighting of the mountains just after.

Just as I started the climb towards Haridwar, saw a couple and their grandkid washing their car at a stream flowing across the road. Decided to clean the Thar windscreens to give it some respectability.

Had a hunt to find the resort. Even asked the local police. But was worth it, as I overshot and had some amazing views of the Ganges.

Reaching the resort required gentle use of the 4 wheel. About 4 kilos up a steep sometimes concrete sometimes non existent one vehicle wide road. Very similar to the part in Kodi near the temple. Then had to turn Thar around to park. And, walk another 500 meters up some steep terrain to the resort. And then, some more to my designated cottage. Perfect for digestion.

Will detail in pictures tomorrow.

Amazing place. In a valley, surrounded by green forest cover.

They even have a private fresh water pool. Dipped my legs in, too bloody cold.

Had been to the place owned by the same people in 2009.

It got buried under a mud slide during a cloudburst in 2014.

There are two other guests here. One is an Israeli couple with a baby. The other a Russian kutti who is here to detox. On a 10 day water only yoga and meditation trip. Scary.

Was extremely busy after getting here doing nothing. Same plans tomorrow. Will however go for the evening Aarthi.

Bye for now.